2023-07-23 - PCT to Chikamin Area

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• Distance: 36 miles
• Elevation gain: 9500ft
• Elapsed time: 17h30m (4am start)

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The distance and elevation gain on this trip seems fairly high, but because the PCT is so smooth, the progress is much better than on tougher trails.

The traverse along the Gold Creek (after the Kendall Katwalk) is one of the most beautiful sections of the PCT in Washington State.

Water management can be a bit tricky. The easiest source of water is Ridge Lake. Until east of Huckleberry there may be no other water sources later in summer. It can be a bit frustrating looking down on Alaska Lake and Joe Lake.

This section of the PCT is typically not doable until later in summer. There are steep gullies that hold snow fairly long. An ice axe (and expertise and nerves) are necessary when there is still snow. I use the CalTopo Sentinel weekly layer and trip reports to see how the snow is.

The slopes where the PCT traverses the Gold Creek valley are fairly steep and the tread is not great.

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Highlights